Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-01-28
BULLYING A WITNESS.
A Kansas Lawyer. Aided by an Ienoran,
Judge, Creates u .sccne In Court.

DCLLIlNN WITNESS
A Kansas Lawyer. Aided by an Ignorant
Judge, Creates q Scene In Court.
We sometimes growl about the way
the modern lawyer attacks and insults
q witness on the stand, but there really
has been great improvement in the
last twenty years, especially in the
West. In 1866 a writer in the Detroit
Free Press was juror in the case of
Adams vs.. Paige, tried in Kansas. Ad-
ans was Boston speculator who was
trying to GUST Paige from certain lands.
The lands clearly belonged to Adams,
and Paige was clearly squatter, but
the latter resisted, and the former ap-
pealed to the law. The Judge was q
squatter, and therefore sympathizer,
while Paige was likewise cousin of
his. When Adams came to take the
stand Paige's lawyer, whose name was
Britt. began:
@Now, MIR. Adams, you say you bought
this land from party in Boston?"
*Yes, SIR"
"And you paid him $4sO?"
Eyes, sir"
Now, Sir, isn't it q fact that while
this Davis, the bogus claimant to this
land, lay dying you robbed him of this
decide"
sNo, sir!"
BE careful! We want no perjury
in this easel How often have you been
sent to the State prison?"
sNeverw
Look Quit All! see the guilty blush
on his facet Notice his confusion
Your honor, that man is deliberately
lying!"
ans lawyer, as he jumped up.
Steve Bullock, you sot DOWN.
shouted his honor. 1--WE known you
ever since you started out driving a
mule team, and you was allus object
ing to everything. If this man has
been in State prison this court wants
to know it. Let him answer the ques-
ton"
81 never have been." replied Adams.
Have you ever robbed 9 widow ?"
asked the lawyer.
"Your honor, what has all this to do
with the case on trial?" asked Adams
lawyer.
"heaps, your honor" replied Britt.
eff can show that this man is a
thief, murderer, and land pirate, it's
our business to do so. If wolf in
sleeps clothing sneaks into our inno-
cent community it is our duty to expose
him.
II should say it was," answered the
court. "The witness must answer the
question, OF I'll lock him up for con.
tempt"
| Il never did," replied Adams.
".Then your looks belle you. Didn't
you set store atire in st. LOUISE"
mo, sir"
Nor rob bank in st. LOUISE"
@Your honor, must object" SAID
Bullock. "This is q case"
"Steve Bullock, sot down I" exclaimed
the court. sYou quit driving mules
year ago and went into law, but yo1
don't know everything yet. This cour
can give you half mile the start ani
beat you in. If this man has robbed
bank we want to know it. We want t,
know what sort of man has com,
among us to skeer our women and chill
4 dren."
Il did not rob bank" said Adams
] ooh, you didn't!' sneered Britt
ssHow about burning a barn in Illinois !!
| "Your Honor, did not come here t,
be insulted," said Adams, as he turned
to the court.
ANSWER the question:" commanded
the Judge "l've got barn of my own
or am going to have next spring, ant
if we've taken barn-burner to tn
bosom OF this community I want t,
know it,"
For two long hours Britt continued
! to ask such questions, and the Judg'
obliged the witness to answer. Thel
the case for the defense was CLOSED
without word in regard to it's 1ega
aspects. Britt commended, in his speecl
to the jury, that it was plot to rob ,
big hearted, good-natured citizen of hi
all, and Bullock was so disgnsted tina
he refused to examine witness o.
make an argument.
"Gents," said the Court, when h,
charged up, eve don't want no foolins
in this case. That 'ere land belongs t
Bill Paige, and you want to return I
verdict to that effect.
We went out, and ten of the twelve
were ready to agree with the Court
Two of us hung out, and to reward III
for producing disagreement hi
Honor sent us to Jail for thirty-si,
hours apiece.
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